Nanhua Miao Village
Relatively far removed from commercialization, this original, ecologically intact Miao village is built into the hillside and hidden deep within dense forest. With just over a hundred households,…
Nanhua Miao Village, Southeast Guizhou
Key facts
- Getting there
- Take a minibus from the prefectural bus station to Leishan; the fare is ¥3 and the journey takes 30 minutes. From the stop, walk across the wind-and-rain bridge and continue for 5 minutes on foot. You can also take a suburban bus or motorized tricycle to Pailè from Kaiyun Avenue (north of the prefectural bus station).
- Guidebook rating
- 3 / 5
From China Self Guided Travel 2025, page 507. Open in Google Maps
About Nanhua Miao Village
Relatively far removed from commercialization, this original, ecologically intact Miao village is built into the hillside and hidden deep within dense forest. With just over a hundred households, it is peaceful and relaxed. Its costumes are so distinctive that they are often called ‘a written history you wear,’ and they can be rented for photos. The village’s Gospel Hall, built by missionaries in earlier years, blends Miao and Western architectural styles and is well worth a look.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get to Nanhua Miao Village?
Take a minibus from the prefectural bus station to Leishan; the fare is ¥3 and the journey takes 30 minutes. From the stop, walk across the wind-and-rain bridge and continue for 5 minutes on foot. You can also take a suburban bus or motorized tricycle to Pailè from Kaiyun Avenue (north of the prefectural bus station).
Where is Nanhua Miao Village?
Nanhua Miao Village is in Southeast Guizhou, Guizhou Province, in the Southwest of China. Near Provincial Highway 308, Kaili City
More places in Southeast Guizhou
Xijiang Thousand-Household Miao Village
Xijiang is home to the world-renowned Thousand-Household Miao Village. Legend holds that the Xijiang Miao are descendants of Chiyou’s third son, and the village’s primitive ecology has remained relatively intact over the centuries. If you have time, spend a full day or stay overnight, as the village takes on a special charm after dark.
¥90 · 1–2 days
Zhaoxing Dong Village
With a history of more than 840 years, Zhaoxing is the largest Dong village in Liping County and one of the oldest Dong villages. It is the largest Dong settlement in the world, with a rich ethnic atmosphere. Known as the ‘No. 1 Dong Village in the Dong Homeland,’ it has five drum tower clusters, five opera stages and five wind-and-rain bridges. Its drum tower clusters are recognized as a world record.
Free · 1–2 days
Jiabang Rice Terraces
The Jiabang Rice Terraces are a masterpiece created by Miao villagers over generations. Vast and magnificent, they embody the very best of the world’s terraced fields. Every morning, layers of mist rise slowly from the river, enveloping the terraces and the Miao stilt houses beside them. The mountain villages and small hamlets among the fields complement the scene, merging with nature so harmoniously that you may feel as though you have stepped into a dreamlike world.
Free · 2–3 hours
Chejiang Dong Village
Chejiang Dong Village is known as ‘the No. 1 Dong Village under heaven.’ It is home to 38 ancient banyan trees, all more than 300 years old. Their roots are interconnected and their branches intertwine, forming a living green canopy.
Free · 2–4 hours
Langde Upper Village
Langde Upper Village is one of the key Miao villages on the Eastern Ethnic Folk Tour route. Its Miao residents wear mainly long skirts, which is why they are also known as the ‘Long-Skirt Miao.’ The village is renowned at home and abroad as the ‘Hometown of Chinese Folk Song and Dance Art,’ one of China’s ‘Hundred Open-Air Museums’ and the ‘Hometown of the Lusheng.’ Visitors can experience the 12 barrier-toast ceremonies (lanlu jiu) that were traditionally held to welcome honored guests.
¥50 · 0.5–1 day
Basha Miao Village
Basha Miao Village is built into the mountainside. Its houses are all ancient stilted dwellings with roofs covered in fir bark, surrounded by dense forest in an elegant setting. Due to its remote location, it still preserves an ancient and primitive way of life. What makes Basha truly distinctive is the hairstyle of its Miao men. Basha men take great pride in their topknot, the most important marker of male dress: they shave most of the hair around the head, leaving only a central portion that is coiled into a bun, which they wear for life. It is said that this hairstyle dates back to the era of Chiyou, and it is the oldest male hairstyle still seen in China today. They wear hand-woven, hand-dyed blue cloth jackets and trousers, which evoke the warriors of ancient times. The Basha people worship the sun god. At every gathering, they play the lusheng (reed pipe) and dance: men and women line up facing the direction of the rising sun, step back seven paces, and only then begin to play. Gatherings take place at the Lusheng Hall, the sacred ground of Basha, where all major village ceremonies are held.
¥60 (entrance ticket + sightseeing bus) · 3 hours